House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Sunday that the president's $787 billion dollar stimulus plan was taking too long to create jobs in the struggling economy.

(CNN) - A leading congressional Democrat and Republican both expressed disappointment Sunday with the pace of the government's economic stimulus program, but offered differing views on whether it was a good idea.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said allocating the $787 billion in the stimulus package pushed by President Barack Obama to create jobs was taking too long.

"We're disappointed," Hoyer, D-Maryland, told "FOX News Sunday." "We're looking at ways to get the money out more quickly."

Hoyer's Republican counterpart, Rep. John Boehner, said on the same program that the stimulus bill passed by Congress in February was flawed.

"You can't spend $800 billion of taxpayer money and not create jobs, when you say that's what the bill was for," Boehner, of Ohio, complained. Boehner said the bill only funds more government, rather than creating private sector jobs.
Democrats, led by Vice President Joe Biden, contend the stimulus money will begin launching more construction projects and other job-creating programs now that necessary mechanisms have been established and contracts signed.

"This was set up to spend out over 18 months," Biden said in an interview with ABC's "This Week" program. "There are going to be major programs that are going to take effect in September - $7.5 billion for broadband, new money for high-speed rail, the implementation of ... the new electric grid. And so this is just starting."

Neither Biden nor Hoyer would comment on whether an additional economic stimulus package is necessary to help pull the U.S. economy out of recession. The latest unemployment figures issued last week showed a 9.5 percent jobless rate, the highest in more than two decades.

Boehner, however, warned against more government spending to heal the economic problems.

"I don't believe it will create jobs," he said, calling instead for reduced taxes to let small business and consumers spend their money as they choose.

Boehner called the scope and speed of Obama's domestic agenda - which so far includes the stimulus package, a health care overhaul now working its way through Congress and an energy bill to combat global warming passed by the House - "nothing short of breathtaking."

The end result, he said, would be "bigger government, higher taxes, less freedom for the American people."

soundoff(92 Responses)

Bernice

He irresponsibly blew 8Billion dollars and created NO JOBS?? I did not really think that was his intentions to begin with!! He gave MILLIONS to foriegn aid!! Mexico!! Zimbobwe for crying out loud! Someone should have the power to STOP HIM! He is going to only want more and more! Thipeople!! No jobs and we get to pay this all back?? I think they wanted to borrow this money and waste it like children in a candy store, then they should figure out how to pay it back! Maybe I do not want this future for my grandchildren!! They deserve better than what this administrations outcome will be! They say that they will create 2 Million jobs by the end of next year! What a joke!! Clinton created 21Million! This guy is manipulating people while giving all of the stimulas money away ...for foriegn countries ...for pork ...for vacations, for bailouts! Heck, we even gave out our blackhawks! WE MUST VOTE HIM OUT! If we do not, we may just end up with America, as we have NEVER dreamed of seeing her! SAVE OUR FREEDOMS, SAVE OUR COUNTRY!

July 6, 2009 05:30 am at 5:30 am |

Tony T

Really? You can't spend $800 billion to fix things? Maybe, just maybe, it would have helped if anyone one of nitwits that voted for this mess, ACTUALLY READ THE THING!!!!. Including our "leader". I am shocked that a $9 billion train to Vegas, didn't create or save 3 million jobs.

It shouldn't be that hard to spin this. So far Obamas plan is a mocing target. Create 5 million jobs, create 3.5 million jobs, create or save 3.5 million jobs, 2.5 millions jobs... How do you prove a job was saved BTW?

Come on 2010, this mistake needs to be corrected in a bad way. Hey did anyone in the house read the health bill? That answer would be no, too. I guess they "mesread" that one too. So much for transparancy.

July 6, 2009 05:36 am at 5:36 am |

Bill

Absolutely, the unemployment numbers have to get down and fast so holding back on the stimulus is insane.

Please get the economy going again, too many people are suffering.

July 6, 2009 05:58 am at 5:58 am |

Jerry in Florida

Were Americans expecting anything else from the Chosen One's administration? Not only that, but it's a real shame that the Democratic majority continues to approve idiotic programs and spend our money like firewood.

The American voter was really fooled by President NObama. We did not get smaller government. It's completely the opposite.

Lets not forget all the lies come election time.

Stay tuned!

July 6, 2009 06:01 am at 6:01 am |

Doug

But if we stimulate private sector jobs, how will the government be able to control our lives?

July 6, 2009 06:16 am at 6:16 am |

VON BISMARK,Vienna.

John Boehner main problem is that he hates Obama and nothing Obama does will ever satisfy him.Let Boehner know that in this electronic age every statement is recorded(audio and video). If the economy turns around as it definitely will then these shots will become circular.

July 6, 2009 06:18 am at 6:18 am |

Lilarose in Bandon, Oregon

It seems that we no longer have a democracy.

That is because everyone, including the entire Congress, believes that President Obama is responsible for everything and it is his burden to "fix" all that is not right in America.

July 6, 2009 06:19 am at 6:19 am |

Marv

Jim Boehmer should shut up his party did nothing for the economy for eight years started wars lost jobs most hated country in the world they were to stupid to realize that french fries were discovered in Belgian not france. cut taxes for the rich, midgets when it comes to morality.plus they have Senator imhofe and Marsha blackman two of the most stupidest people in goverment so just sit back and enjoy the ride if you have noyhing to say get out of the way.

July 6, 2009 06:25 am at 6:25 am |

theflyonthewall

Thanks for nothing, Obama.

Hopefully we'll see yours and Biden's resignations on America's collective desk in the morning.

July 6, 2009 06:30 am at 6:30 am |

Denis Rom

It's Taking government too long to get our country back to work, spend the stimulus money by giving it to small business to boost the economy with free enterprise and give more stimulus money to the people of our nation to get them spending again, this is the formula to get the country going again, not making government bigger.

July 6, 2009 06:40 am at 6:40 am |

Brian

Stop looking for the government for answers, be self reliant or as a great American put it, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."

If you hand over your freedom for comfort the government will gladly take it.

July 6, 2009 06:47 am at 6:47 am |

Moderate and Conservative

If the state legislatures cannot get the stimulus programs functioning by October 1, Obama and the Dems will suffer the consequences.

July 6, 2009 06:55 am at 6:55 am |

jan

the stimulus money didnt get to some like me. in 1998 my ex had a house foreclosed on. we married in 2003 in a community property state. in 2006 the mortgage co. "forgave" his debt. because we were married in 2006 and filed joint, i have to pay a very large portion to irs even tho it wasnt mine and our devorce was in 2007. those that are in foreclosure will just about get back on their feet when this will hit them. there will be a lot of people very poor again at that poiunt. it is wrong!!!

July 6, 2009 06:55 am at 6:55 am |

jd

Obama is doing just what he said – Hoping it will change. . . we are now worse off than under Bush, thanks DEMS.

Amateur hour in the White House is not what this country needed, but the voters went for flash instead of ability. . . and now we all get to pay for it.

July 6, 2009 07:01 am at 7:01 am |

Mark

Obama's stimulus proved to be worthless. It is just more debt we cannot afford. The market has no confidence in this president period!

July 6, 2009 07:03 am at 7:03 am |

andrea

We did not get into this mess overnight and will not get out of it overnight. Furthermore, unless we get back into the business of manufacturing things, from cloth pins to TV sets, there will be no sustainable growth. All the consumption from the Reagan days on to the last Bush has been fueled by borrowing and that is simply not sustainable. It was all smoke and mirrors. People have to have disposable income to spend. A purely service economy does not promote a healthy system.

July 6, 2009 07:09 am at 7:09 am |

howie

What an idiot Hoyer and the rest are for believing the stimulus package was going to solve all our problems. It has just created a whoping debt for all taxpayers. It is unfortunate the our leaders stung all americans. We deserve better from our leaders.

July 6, 2009 07:16 am at 7:16 am |

Upandrunning

Here's an idea.... if it's not working, stop spending!! It is not too late to fix the problem and stop spending the taxpayers' money on a flawed stimulus package that is obviously not working. Spending it faster is supposed to help now?? The clowns in Washington need to grow up and admit they are wrong. Let true capitalism work this out and it will be over much more quickly. Oh yeah... no more bailouts either.

July 6, 2009 07:16 am at 7:16 am |

Luke Allen

Hoyer is dead right, we need to be moving forward the furtherest spending, so that retail is propped up during the worst of this recession, not once things are swinging up.

July 6, 2009 07:16 am at 7:16 am |

Charles Moakler

In Kentucky the stimulas has only enabled more bad managment of an already pitifully run state bureaucracy that is leaving massive taxes uncollected because of breaucratic apathy. Tax evasion is rampant here but we can let it go another two years now because of the federal printing press.

July 6, 2009 07:23 am at 7:23 am |

GI Joe

I find it interesting that the republicans did nothing for 8 years (except pour money into W's war) and now they criticize everything the democrats are trying to do to clean up the mess. They are NOT, however, coming up with any viable solutions of their own – just criticism.

It's a shame.

July 6, 2009 07:24 am at 7:24 am |

Kat

Smoke, they are all blowing smoke!!!

July 6, 2009 07:28 am at 7:28 am |

Stuffit

Should this money not be subject to "PAY-GO", or was that "law" conveniently passed after the fact and this money is free?

The whole PAY-GO business was simply a stunt to make it look like "Change you can believe in" had finally arrived.

Meanwhile, we can sit back and watch our taxes skyrocket. Of course, none of the provisions in the crap and trade legislation worming its way through Congress involve taxes, simply a fee or a levy, maybe a surcharge here and there, but not a tax. Remember that 95% of Americans won't see ANY FORM of tax increase during the Obama administration. Well, Read My Lips.

July 6, 2009 07:30 am at 7:30 am |

mmg

We are all so dissappointed!!! in so many ways with Obama!!! He has created nothing but stress and Lies !!!

July 6, 2009 07:33 am at 7:33 am |

db

To say that Obama's presidency has, thus far, been a series of disappointments is an understatement. For all of his lofty rhetoric, his results are lackluster at best, and I fear that in certain areas (the economy, national security) they may prove disastrous.